Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Thirty years later, the former US Embassy wall is still lined with hateful political posters.
As I walked along the wall, it occurred to me that the crisis had happened three
decades ago. While it remains a sore spot for many Americans, Iranians—over half of
whom weren't even born at the time—appeared content to let the murals fade in the sun.
The murals seemed to drone on like an unwanted call to battle…a call that people I en-
countered had simply stopped hearing. In fact, looking back, many Iranians believe that
the hostage crisis hijacked their Revolution. By radicalizing their country, it succeeded in
putting things in the hands of the more hard-line clerics.
Today the Islamic Revolution has become deeply ingrained. After chatting with one
young man who didn't look as if he was particularly in compliance with the Revolution,
we said goodbye. Later—after he'd thought about our conversation—he returned to tell
me, “One present from you to me, please. You must read Quran. Is good. No politics.”
Looking at the evangelical zeal in his eyes, I realized that he had just as earnest a con-
cern for my soul as a pair of well-dressed Mormons who might stop me on the street back
home. Why should a Muslim evangelist be any more surprising (or annoying, or men-
acing) than a Christian one? He simply cared about me.
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